William Schouler, A history of Massachusetts in the Civil War: Volume 2

The city-clerk during all the years of the war was Eleazer Johnson. The city-treasurer during the same period was Daniel Granger.

1861. Governor Andrew, the day after his first inauguration as governor (January 5th), ordered national salutes to be fired at different places, on January 8th, in commemoration of the battle of New Orleans, and also in honor of Major Anderson's recent gallantry in removing his command from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter in the harbor of Charleston, S. C. Newburyport was one of the places where a salute was ordered to be fired. On the evening of January 7th the following resolutions were adopted by the city council of Newburyport:—

Resolved, That while they would consider all the complaints made by the State which has voted secession and the other States that contemplate secession, and while they would urge upon our representatives and senators in General Court to repeal the Personal Liberty law, and upon our representatives and senators in Congress to prepare or accept such just and proper compromises as shall pacify the nation, they accept the language of General Jackson, ‘the Union, it must and shall be preserved;’ and as Newburyport at all times has been loyal and patriotic in support of law, order, and liberty, so she will again, if the occasion calls for it, pledge life, fortune, and honor in behalf of the Constitution and Union as our fathers left them.

Resolved, That this is not a time for faction or party, and we feel justified in calling upon all our fellow-citizens to forget their past party predilections, and merge in one great Union Party; where faction shall be forgotten in country, and self in patriotism; where all shall strive for the things that make for peace; and, while they would pluck the mote from their brother's eye, will not forget the beam in their own eye.

Resolved, That in token of fealty to the Union, our common country,